Cuba Gooding Sr – a popular soul singer in the 1970s and father of the Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr – has died at the age of 72.

According to TMZ and KABC, Gooding Sr was found dead in his car in Woodland Hills, California, on Thursday afternoon (April 20).

The Los Angeles Fire Department reportedly attempted CPR, but could not resuscitate him. The coroner's office is investigating the cause of death, although there is no indication of foul play.

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Gooding Sr was the lead singer of the soul group the Main Ingredient, whose biggest hits included 'Everybody Plays the Fool' and 'Just Don't Want to be Lonely'.

Born in New York City, he was twice married to Shirley Gooding – they separated in 1974 before remarrying in 1995. They had four children together: actors Cuba Jr and Omar, comedian April and musician Tommy.

"I remember, one of my earliest memories… he would perform at Disneyland, and after his performances, they would close it off to the general public, and all the performers' kids would go on the rides as many times as they'd want," he said.

"He would pull me up on stage with him and make me finish the song because I had seen him perform it all the time, and in the household all the time. It was a lot of feeling like, 'I come from royalty'."